Stabilizer



Feb, 8}, 1944. N. A. JAMES 2,341,380

STABILXZER Filed Aug. 27. 14o

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STABILIZER Nicholas A. James, San Angelo, Tex.

Application August 27, 1940, Serial No. 354,464

1 Claim. (01. 62-1) are of a kindred nature, and mix or blend readily. Manufacturers rarely, if ever, make or distribute a pure propane or butane liquid. Propane, being more volatile, requires less heat to vaporize than does butane. It is also true that the more volatile fuel, such as propane, contains less 13. t. u. heat value than the heavier butane fuel, so that when a body of these blended liquid fuels is stored in a pressure container, and the pressure released to obtain the vapor for fuel, the more volatile or propane vapors come out of the container first. The propane vapors, as above stated, contain less heat than the butane, to wit, 2550 B. t. u. per 0. f. The butane or heavier vapor fuel comes off next, and has a heat value of 3274 B. t. u. per 0. f.

When suitable appliances are installed in the consumers home, the burners are adjusted to a mixture embodying a certain amount of air and a given amount of gas, to obtain a ood flame characteristic. Thus it can be seen readily that the required amount of air for propane gas vapors is less than the amount of air required for butane. The lighter fuels, of less heat value, come oil first when the container is full, the volume reduces to a lower level in the container, the heat value of the vapor is changed, and a maladjustment of the appliance results.

This invention, therefore, proposes to equalize the heat content of propane and butane, or any other liquid hydrocarbon gas contained in the mixture of either butane or propane, or any mixture of liquefied hydrocarbons containing ethane, propane, butane, methane or pentanes, enabling the use of any of the aforesaid hydrocarbon liquids, either pure or mixed, and deriving therefrom a uniform heat content value vapor, regardless of atmospheric temperature by means of heat. In addition to equalizing the heat content of the fuel, the invention makes it possible to use smaller and less costly containers, because it is not nec essary to depend on volume to store heat. Another additional advantage of the invention is that it will not be necessary to bury tanks under ground, thereby avoiding the ultimate but certain hazard of corrosion.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of device of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The device i disclosed in a single figure, which is a vertical section, wherein parts remain in elevation.

The numeral I marks a container of volatile hydrocarbon liquids. An equalizing conduit is shown at 2. The upper end of the equalizing conduit 2 is connected to the top of the container 1 by a valve 3, under the control of an operator. The lower end of the equalizing conduit 2 is connected to the bottom of the container I by a valve 4, under the control of an operator. A coil 5 or other accumulator is interposed in the equalizing conduit 2. The lower end of the coil extends a little way below the lowermost portion of the container I, or at least is flush therewith.

A line 6 extends downwardly from the upper portion of the equalizing conduit 2. The house service line is marked by the numeral 8 and forms part of the regulator line 6, the regulator line 6 being joined to the house service line 8 by a pressure reducer I of standard or approved construction.

A burner pipe 9 is branched off the house service line 8 and carries a burner Ill, so located as to heat the coil 5.

A thermostat l l is located in operative relation to the coil 5 and is connected at l2 to a thermostatic valve l6, controlling the flow to the burner I0 by way of the burner pipe 9.

The lower end of a pilot burner I4 is connected to the burner pipe 9 by means of a valve l5, which terminates in close relation to the burner H). The valve I5 is a combined pressure-operated valve and safety valve. The pilot burner M remains lighted at all times, so that when the thermostat produces opening movement, the main burner III will be lighted. In the interest of safety, should the pilot burner l4 fail, the valve IE will cut off automatically, the flow of gas to the main burner, as well as to the pilot burner.

Hydrocarbon liquid passes from the container I through the valve 4, into the coil 5, the coil,

owing to its location relatively to the container I, being full of hydrocarbon liquid, so long as there is liquid in the container I.

The burner II) applies a small amount of heat to the coil 5, and the liquid therein is vaporized immediately, and is forced into the upper portion of the equalizing conduit 2, to which is connected the regulating line 6.

The reducer shown at l cuts down the pressure to the house service line 8, to accord with specifications relating to service linepressure.

When a demand for vapor fuel occurs, vaporization begins at the coil 5, thereby cooling the coils, and causing the thermostatic valve I6 to open, permitting a flow of gas to the burner Hi, the gas at the burner being ignited by the pilot burner l4. Should the pilot burner I4 fail, the burner will continue to function until full consumption stops.

It is to be noted that the upper portion of the equalizing conduit 2 is connected by the valve 3 to the top of the container I, to dispose of excess vapors which are stored in the vapor space in the container 1, above the liquid level. The heavier gas normally at the bottom of the container l is circulated to the top of the container, and an additional equalizing of the heat content of the vapors is brought about.

The device forming the subject matter will be effective to consummate the objects set forth in the opening portion ofthis specification. Hydrocarbon liquids are vaporized without the use of water, and it is unnecessary to heat the entire quantity of liquid in the container. Moreover, the container need not be disposed under ground. The machine is economical, in that only a small amount of fuel to be consumed, during the time of operation, is heated. The device draws the liquid from the bottom of the container to effect vaporization, and transmits the vapors to the top of the container, above the level of the liquid fuel therein. A uniform B. t. u. content is assured, from the beginning to the end of the consumption.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A vapor generator comprising a container for hydrocarbon liquids, a first pipe external to the container and communicating with the container through the top and bottom thereof, a storage member interposed in the first pipe, a main burner disposed in operative relation to the storage member, a second pipe branched off the first pipe, a service line, a pressure regulator connecting the second pipe with the service line, a connection between the main burner and the service line, a thermostat disposed in operative relation to the main burner, a third pipe leading from the connection to the thermostat, pressureaotuated valve interposed in the connection and located between the service line and the third pipe, and a pilot burner disposed in operative relation to the main burner and in communication with the pressure actuated valve.

' NICHOLAS A. JAMES. 

